National Defense Industrial Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AS THE WORLD'S TRUSTED LEADER IN PROFESSIONAL NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE ASSOCIATIONS, NDIA CONVENES THE MOST THOUGHTFUL AND INNOVATIVE LEADERS TO ADVANCE AND ADVOCATE FOR BEST PRACTICES, INITIATIVES, AND PRODUCTS IN DEFENSE, TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR NATION, ITS ALLIES AND PARTNERS. NDIA PROVIDES TRUSTED LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE CONVENING AND COLLABORATION OF GLOBAL LEADERS TO SOLVE THE MOST COMPLEX CHALLENGES IN DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY.
- Income
- $36.0 million
- Spending
- $33.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 25.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 104
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $1.4 million, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2586 of 87 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $12.3 million spent. MEETINGS & EXHIBITS: THE NDIA PROMOTES ACTIVITIES AND FORUMS FOR THE INTERCHANGE BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT ON TECHNOLOGY AND ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENTS. IN ADDITION, IT PROVIDES STATE OF THE ART DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY UPDATES AND PROMOTES BETTER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES THROUGH SYMPOSIA. NDIA'S DIVISIONS COVER A WIDE SPECTRUM OF INTEREST AREAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE PREPAREDNESS EFFORT. THE DIVISIONS ARE ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE THE EXCHANGE OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, LOGISTICS, AND MANAGEMENT OF WEAPONS SYSTEMS, POLICY, ASSOCIATED SUPPORT, AND TRAINING AMONG THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, OTHER FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE AGENCIES, INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND SCIENTIFIC AGENCIES.
- $5.3 million spent. ETI, MARKETING & OUTREACH: COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MARKETING, COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE ASSOCIATION'S MAGAZINE. THE NATIONAL DEFENSE MAGAZINE IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE THAT IS PUBLISHED TO HELP EDUCATE GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING DEFENSE ISSUES AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS.
- $4.5 million spent. CHAPTERS AND DIVISIONS: THE NDIA AND WID CHAPTERS ARE PART OF THE NDIA ENTITY AND ARE ORGANIZED GEOGRAPHICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE ASSOCIATION'S VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS. MANY ARE LOCATED NEAR MAJOR MILITARY COMMANDS, RESEARCH CENTERS, AND DEFENSE AGENCIES AND CONDUCT PROGRAMS TO INFORM THEIR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE INDUSTRIAL BASE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1928.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.